Reversible single-line feeder



Aug. 8, 1939 D. R. HlLLls 2,168,936

REVERSIBLE SINGLE-LINE FEEDER Filed oct. 1 7, 193e 'I I l 2 f l `7 ,l l I l 1 ea 64 7o 7/ 58 67 5 57 z l I 56 sa 8260 51? 59 7n a 7 l 67 66 69 7o 56 5l es es e6 7/ 57 55 I INV ENTOR Patented Ang. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES REVERSIBLE SINGLE-LINE FEEDER David R. Hillis, Detroit,

bon Engineering Corporation,

Mich., assigner to Tra- Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application October 17,

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in feeders for a fluid distributing system especially adapted for handling lubricant, said system being of the single-line flow reversing type such as that described and claimedin my copending applications, Serial No. 523,149, filed March 16, 1931, now Patent Number 2,094,271, and Serial No. 738,656, led August 6, 1934, now Patent Number 2,075,719.

Many feeders for this type of system have been developed by me, such for instance as those disclosed in my Patent No. 1,997,406 and in several of my copending applications and others filed simultaneously herewith. Prior feeders utilize a number of moving parts, are expensive to manufacture, and fail to respond properly to low pressure fluids of low Viscosity, or when mounted in'various positions, or when feeding small quantities of fluid into small bearings.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a feeder for such a system that has but few moving parts, is convenient to manufacture and service, and which has positive operating dal characteristics under all operating conditions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of my improved feeder taken on line i-I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to that shown in Fig.` 1 with the operative parts shown in reverse position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

'Reference tothese views in which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout ,vill now be made.

The feeder is made in substantially the shape of a cross, in order to permit easier manufacture but it could be mrde from a solid block of'steel or other metal by boring the necessary passages and inserting suitable plugs to stop the ends of the respective passages in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

As shown, the feeder comprises a cross-shaped body member 5l having a cylindrical piston receiving orifice 52 bored through the longestportion of the cross. Each end of the cylindrical passage 52 is counterbored as at 53 to provide a passage or port around each end of a slidable piston or piston valve 54 that reciprocates in the cylindrical passage 52 upon the alternation of the flow of fluid through the feeder.

1936, Serial No. 106,167

Each enlarged end of the piston guiding orifice 52 is provided with any suitable means for connecting it to a pipe line and with any suitable means for stopping the piston valve 54 in its appropriate place. For this purpose, I provide end fixtures comprising pierced caps 55 having spaced internally projecting stop lugs 56, which are shown more clearly in Fig. 5. When the peened edges of the end of the piston engage the stop lugs 56, the fluid passes freely therebetween. The caps may be secured tothe ends of the body 5l in any suitable manner as by means of the screw threaded engagement shown. Either these end fixture caps or the ends of the cylindrical passages may be attachedy to a pipe line, in which latter event the pipe-line must be adapted to act as a stop member forv the piston valve or may be provided with similar stop lugs.

Each of the pierced openings in the end X- tures acts as a dual-service port for the fluid distributing feeder. For convenience, I designate oneof these dual-service ports by the numeral 51 and the other by the numeral 58.

'I'he piston valve 54 is provided with two spaced cylindrical bores or chambers, one at each end thereof, in each of which an auxiliary piston is adapted to reciprocate. For convenience, I designate one of these chambers by the numeral 59 and the other` by the numeral 60. Auxiliary piston 6l reciprocates in chamber 59 and auxiliary piston 62 reciprocates in chamber 60.

The exterior of piston valve 54 is provided with four substantially equally spaced circumferential grooves 63, 64, 65 and 66 respectively, thus leaving spaced valve heads or valve portions 61, 68, 69, 1li and 1|. Tl'e grooves comprise ports in the piston and they are spaced apart by distances substantially equal to the stroke or reciprocation of the piston in the body.

A duct 12 is bored in piston valve 54 at the inner end of chamber to permit fluid to flow out of said inner end of said chamber and a similar duct 'I3 is bored for the outlet of the inner end of chamber 59. Duct 12 may be bored at an angle to communicate directly with circumferential. groove 64 but I prefer to bore a passage 'i4 diametrically through`piston valve 54 from one side to the other of groove. and communicating with duct 12. Similarly, I provide a passage 'i5 passing from one side of piston valve 54 to the other in groove 65 and a duct 13 connecting axially therefrom to the other chamber 59 in the piston.

Any suitable means may be provided for preventing pistons 6| and 62 from sliding out of the las 2 outer ends of the chambers 5I and 55. Por this purpose, I provide perforated disks 15 and I1 respectively each having a larger external diameter than that of the chambers 55 and Il. I counterbore the ends of piston valve 54 to receive the disks of larger diameter and then secure them in place by the impinging action of a hammer or other suitable means to peen the circumferential edge over in position to retain the disks in nxed relationship to the piston valve 55, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The body portion 5i is also provided with a communicating passageway or by-pass loop 1l, the respective ends of whichl open into ports spaced axially along the walls of the orifice 52 and adapted to register with circumferential grooves 54 or 65, when piston valve Il is in the position shown in Fig. l, and adapted to register with circumferential grooves Il and 55 when said piston valve 54 is in the position shown in Fig. 2. I prefer to accomplish the boring of this passageway i8 by boring one arm of the cross 'of the body member to a suitable depth and then boring diagonally to the desired locations as shown. I then secure a plug 19 in the bored arm of the cross, as by the screw threaded means shown, as to have a passageway between the inner portion of the plug and the innermost end of the large bore in said arm as shown.

I n the other arm of the cross. I bore an outlet or discharge port l0 and provide it with suitable means for connection to a pipe line or bearing or othersuitable receptacle. This outlet port is adapted to register with circumferential groove when piston valve 54 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and with circumferential groove 54 when said piston valve is lin the position shown in Pls. 2. Grooves 54 and 55 thus serve as piston discharge ports.

The middle portion of chamber 55 is provided with a by-pass port 5i which may pass diametrically through the piston valve 54 as shown. It communicates with the circumferential groove 55. Similarly the middle portion of cylinder 55 is provided with a by-pass port l! which may pass diametrically through the valve 5I as shown and it communicates with circumferential groove 5l.

The operation of this device is as follows: Assume that duid under pressure is flowing into the feeder through port 51. Let it be also assumed that piston valve 54 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and pistons 5I and 52 occupy the positions in char" 'fi-ers 59 and 50 as shown in Fig. l. The fluid under pressure will then cause piston valve 54 to shift to the position shown in Fig. i after which it will move piston ll tothe left, causing it to discharge a measured quantity of fluid from chamber 59, out through duct 'Il and passage 1l into circumferential groove 55 and out of outlet port 80. The fluid continuing to enter chamber 59 will then pass out thereof through by-pass port 8i into the circumferential groove 55 and thence through by-pass loop 1l into circumferential A groove 55, thence through passage 'Il and duct 'I2 into chamber lll, causing piston 52 to move to the left, thence through passage 52. which then registers with one of the counterbored portions 5I at the end of the piston guiding orifice Il. and thence passes between the stop lugs 55 and throng dual-service port 5l.

On reversal of flow of uid under pressure, it will enter the feeder through port 55. shift the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. than cause piston 52 to move to the right, thus discharging a measured quantity of iiuid out of the chamber' 55 through duct 12, passage 14, groove 54 and discharge port Il. The continued flow of the fluid will by-passthrough the feeder from chamber 55 through port 52, groove 53, passage 18, groove 55, passage 15l duct 13 into chamber 59 moving piston 5I to the right, thence out of passage 8| to groove' which then communicates with the other counterbored portion 5I and thence between the spaced stop lugs 55 and out of dual-service port 51. 'I'he counter-bored portions 53 at opposite ends of the piston guiding orifice 52 thus comprise ports for connection with the ports 8| and l2 in the side walls of the respective chambers 55 and 65.

It will be seen that I have provided a uid distributing feeder which has positive operating characteristics for feeding small quantities of fluid at high or low pressures and in any mounted position, which comprises a minimum number of movingparts requiring a minimum of close fitting guides or bores, and which is conveniently assembled and readily accessible for servicing.

Although I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible.

Therefore. I do not wish to be restricted to thespeciflc structural details, arrangement of parts or connections herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination with a body having a discharge port and two service ports, of means in said body responsive to the injection of fluid into either service port for discharging a quantity of fluid from the discharge port and thereafter passing the injected fluid out of the other one of said service ports, said means comprising a ported piston receiving orifice in said body, a. single outlet port in the side of said orifice connected to the body discharge port, a hollow ported piston slidable in said orifice, a `pair of chambers in said piston opening through respective spaced piston discharge ports whereby the chambers are selectively connected for discharging into said outlet port, and an auxiliary piston slidably disposed in each of said chambers.

2. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice therein, a discharge port in the side wall of said orice, a hollow piston slidably disposed in said orifice, fluid receiving passages in said piston, a plurality of cylinders in said hollow piston, an auxiliary fluid propelling piston in each cylinder in said hollow piston, and a plurality of discharge ports disposed in said piston for selective connection with the discharge port in said orifice as the piston reciprocates therein.

3. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice therein, a discharge port in the side wall of said orifice, a hollow piston slidably disposed in said orifice, end xtures on said body at opposite ends of said orifice for defining fluid receiving compartments and comprising stop means for determining the extreme positions of said piston, fluid receiving passages in said hollow pis ton for receiving uid from said compartments, a plurality of cylinders in said hollow piston, an auxiliary ud propelling piston in each cylinder in said hollow piston. and two discharge ports disposed in said piston for selectiveiy connecting with the discharge port in said orifice as the. piston is moved axially `to either of its extreme positions.

4. In a iiuid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice therein, a discharge port in the side wall of said orifice, a hollow piston slidably disposed in said orifice, `end fixtures on said body at opposite ends of said orifice for defining iiuid receiving compartments and comprising stop means for determining the extreme positions of said piston, two discharge ports disposed in said piston for selective colmection with said discharge port in the side wall of said orifice as the piston is moved axially to either of its extreme positions,

inlet passages connecting vinto said hollow piston from said compartments, and auxiliary pistons, each slidably disposed in said hollow piston and discharging a. quantity of fluid from said piston through one of said discharge ports as it is moved toward theother auxiliary piston by fluid pressure, said fluid pressure being alternatively applied in said compartments.

5. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice thereima hollow ported piston slidably disposed in said orifice, said piston having a partition in its body part, dual-service ports at opposite ends of said orifice, inlet ports in opposite ends of said piston, two piston discharge ports spaced axially in said piston, a discharge port in said body for selective connection with either one of said piston discharge ports alternatively as the piston reciprocates to either of two extreme positions responsive to the application of iiuid pressure to either of said dual-service ports, and fluid actuated members associated with said piston and separated by said partition, each such member discharging a quantity of fluid from its associated piston discharge port when said port is; connected to the body discharge port and the application of fluid pressure is continued.

6. In a iiuid distributing feeder the combil connection from each dual-service port to each chamber by-pass port when the piston is moved to its adjacent position, piston' discharge ports opening from said chambers .respectively and spaced axially in said piston for selective connection ,with said body discharge port, a bypass loop in said body opening at opposite ends through by-pass ports spaced axially in said orince for reversible selective connection between the chamber by-pass port at one end of the piston and tl'le piston discharge port at the other end oi' the piston as the piston is actuated between two positions, an auxiliary piston slidamm each-chamber responsive to fluid pressure applied to the adjacent dual-service port for discharging fluid through the ports connecting from said chamber and thereafter 'opening the in let port to the by-pass port in said chamber, for by-passing uid through said by-pass loop to push. the auxiliary piston to the outermost end of the other chamber, to charge the chamber and t by-pass the fluid through its associated by-passport and thence through the associated dual-service port.

7. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice,

an enlarged counterbore at each end of said` piston guiding orifice, a body discharge port in said orifice, a dual-service port at each end of said orifice, a piston slidable in said orifice responsive to iiuid pressures applied through either dual-service port, a chamber in each end of said piston, an inlet port in the outermost end of each chamber, a by-pass port in the side of each chamber disposed for closure by movement into close engagement with the side walls of the orifice or for opening into the enlarged counter-bore as the piston is actuated between two extreme positions in the orifice, piston discharge ports opening from said chambers respectively and spaced axially in said piston for selective connection with said body discharge port, a icy-pass loop in said body opening 'at opposite ends through by-pass ports spaced axially in said orice for reversible selective connection between one of said chamber by-pass ports and one of said piston discharge ports as the piston is actuated between two positions, an auxiliary piston slidable in each chamber responsive to iiuid pressure applied to the adjacent dual-service port for discharging fluid through the ports connecting from said chamber and thereafter opening the inlet port to the by-pass port in said chamber for by-passirlig fluid through said by-pass loop to push the other auxiliary piston to the outermost end of the other chamber, to

charge said other chamber and to by-pass the fluid through the associated by-pass port and thence through the associated dual-service port.

8. In a uid distributing feeder the combination of a body having 'a piston guiding orifice, an enlarged counterbore at each end of said piston guiding orifice, a body discharge port in said orifice, end xtures on said body providing a dual-service port at each end of said orifice, open iiuid passing piston stop means in each end fixture, a piston slidable in said orice responsive to fluid pressures applied through either dual-service port, a chamber in each end of said piston, an inlet port in the outermost end of each chamber, a by-pass port in the side of each chamber disposed for closure by movement into close engagement with the side walls of the orice or for opening into the enlarged counterbore as the piston is actuated to carry either chamber into the piston guiding oriiice or into the counter-bore respectively, piston discharge ports opening from said chambers respectively and spaced axially in said piston for selective connection with said body discharge port, a bypass loop in said body opening at opposite ends through by-pass ports spaced axially in said orifice for reversible selective connection between one of said chamber by-pass ports and one of said piston discharge ports as the piston is actuated tovone of its extreme positions ani for reversing the connections when the piston is moved to its other position, an auxiliary piston slldable in each chamber responsive,to iiuid pressure applied to the adjacent dualservice port for discharging iiuid through the ports connecting from said chamber and thereafter opening the inlet port to the by-pass port loop., and in the piston, the two discharge portsbeing disposed in the intermediate portion spaced between the by-pass ports from said chamber.

9. In a iiuid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice, a body discharge port in said oriiice, a dualservice port at each end of said orifice, means responsive to fiuid pressure applied to either dual-service port for discharging a predetermined quantity of iiuid from said body dis charge port and for thereafter by-passing fluid through the other dual-service port including, a piston slidable in said orifice, a chamber in each end of said piston, an inlet port in the outermost end of each chamber, a movable pressure actuated member separately disposed in each chamber, and interconnecting means actuated by the movement of the piston in said orifice. Y

10. In a fluid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice therein, a partitioned and ported piston slidably disposed in said orifice, said piston having two cylinders, one on each side of the piston partition, dual-service ports at opposite ends of said orifice, inlet ports in opposite ends of said piston, each leading to one of the cylinders in said piston, a discharge port in said body, a movable member in each piston cylinder, each of said members being actuated by the application of iiuld pressure entering its cylinder from its adjacent dual-service port and adapted to cooperate with ports in said piston for discharging a previously charged quantity of fluid from the discharge port and conduit means controlled by said piston and fiuid pressure for bypassing the received fluid to the other dual-service port after the fluid pressure discharges a quantity of fluid from the discharge port by operation of the piston in either direction.

11. In a fiuid distributing feeder the combination of a body having a piston guiding orifice therein, an outlet port communicating with said orifice and disposed centrally of said body and dual-service ports disposed in end portions of said body and communicating with said orifice, a partitioned piston having two hollow ends, said piston being slidably disposed in said oriiice, stop means limiting the slidable movement of said piston, two additional ports in said body communicating with and spaced axially along said orifice, one on each side of said outlet port, said two additional ports being connected by a bypass passage, all five of said body ports communicating with the orifice at points spaced at distances equal to the stroke of the piston, four piston ports spaced axially along said piston, said four ports being spaced at distances equal to the stroke of the piston and a fiuid ejecting means movably disposed in each hollow end portion of said piston.

. DAVID R. HILLIS. 

